Written by

Tamatha Hazen

February 1, 2024

Edited by

Kristen Cramer

Fact-checked by

Tom Grupa

Overnight babysitting & nanny rates

Overnight babysitting rates are $75 to $150 for a 10-to-12-hour shift or $150 to $275 for a 24-hour period. A two-night weekend costs $300 to $550. Parents often negotiate flat-rate fees with casual sitters but permanent nannies earn their regular rate overnight for kids that wake during the night.

How much do overnight babysitters or nannies charge hourly?

Regular babysitters cost $14 to $20 per hour during the day and $1 per hour more for overnight shifts.

Labor laws require that nannies and regular sitters be paid during sleep hours when children are up in the night, but those laws don’t apply to casual babysitters that only work occasionally.

How much to pay a babysitter for 24-hours

Overnight babysitters earn $150 to $275 on average for a 24-hour shift, depending on how they are paid. Some parents pay a regular day rate when the kids are awake and $75 to $150 during sleeping hours. Others negotiate a 24-hour flat-rate fee or pay for awake hours only.

How much to pay babysitter for a weekend

Overnight day care & child care costs

Parents on night shifts often hire a nanny costing $525 to $1,000 per week as their regular overnight sitter. Other options for overnight child care include:

• A live-in nanny costs $700 to $1,200 per week plus room and board. In-home nannies often work a more flexible schedule.

• An au pair costs $325 to $480 per week for agency fees and mandatory stipends as part of a cultural exchange program.

Cost factors that affect overnight babysitting rates

Some factors that affect overnight rates include:

• Age & number of children – Infant care costs about 5% to 15% more than care for older children. Caring for more than one child increases hourly rates by $1 to $3 per hour per child.

• Skills & experience – Babysitters with safety and health certifications, an early childhood education degree, or years of experience charge more per hour.

• Special care – Caring for children with special needs or medical issues increases the sitter rate.

• Holiday rates – High-demand holidays like New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day have higher hourly rates.

• Additional expenses

  • Periodic background checks cost $25 to $200.

  • Reimbursement for transportation costs $0.62.5 per mile for gas and maintenance.

• Additional responsibilities – Overnight sitters may negotiate a higher pay rate to perform household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, and pet care.

  • Homework help and tutoring costs $25 to $80 per hour.

  • Housework & house cleaning costs $25 to $50 per hour.

Finding and hiring an overnight babysitter or nanny

When hiring an overnight babysitter, be sure to:

• Get referrals from trusted friends or teachers.

• Look for a sitter with several years of experience.

• Confirm their credentials and qualifications.

• Browse their reviews on TrustedCare or other online sources.

• Meet with several sitters and select one that fits your schedule and budget.

Questions to ask

• How many years have you been babysitting?

• What ages of children have you cared for?

• What health and safety qualifications or certifications do you hold?

• Do you live locally? Do you have transportation?

• How would you handle an emergency?

• Do you have experience caring for children with special needs or medical conditions?

• Are you willing to perform light cleaning when the children go to bed?

• What is your schedule of availability?